Arsene Wenger admits he is agonizing over the decision to play injured Thierry Henry in tonight’s crucial Champions League tie with PSV Eindhoven.

The Arsenal skipper has not trained fully for the best part of two weeks, but will return to the squad for the crucial Champions League clash with PSV Eindhoven at the Emirates Stadium – with the Gunners trailing 1-0 from the first leg.

Henry, 29, has been hampered by a troublesome hamstring as well as a foot problem – and was given a painkilling injection to play in the first leg a fortnight ago.

Last season’s exploits in dragging the Gunners towards the Champions League final and then the bitter disappointment of also coming so close to World Cup glory have clearly taken their toll.

Henry is desperate to get back into action and feels he is ‘paying the price’ for continuing to play on earlier in the campaign when not physically ready.

Wenger accepts this time, they have to get it right.

‘His season has been disturbed by small injuries, but sometimes small injuries are the worse than the real injury, they stop you playing at 100% of their level and that is what has happened to him this season,’ said the Arsenal boss.

‘It is that from his back his hamstring is tight and that has happened the whole season.

‘If it gets worse after the game, we will stop him completely until he is completely clear.’

Wenger added: ‘There is no risk for his health – but it is just it could get worse again after the game and that you then start from scratch.’

The Arsenal manager knows just what an influence his talisman can be.

‘Thierry is vital because he can score you a goal and he has a psychological impact on the opponents as well, therefore I am very happy that I have him available,’ said Wenger.

‘Every player is the most important but some, like Thierry have been more influential.

‘The history he has made speaks for him – he is the biggest goalscorer and when you look at how difficult it is to score goals now in the modern game – it has been amazing.’